Famitsu reveals Captain Rainbow details

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 9th 2008 at 12:30PM }

As our extreme fondness for Seaman clearly shows, we absolutely adore bizarre games. Sure, Nintendo's upcoming Wii title Captain Rainbow may have a severe lack of Nimoy and man-faced fish, but it more than makes up for it with trippy visuals and an all-star (well, half-star) cast of Nintendo's supporting characters. We're definitely intrigued by what we've seen from the game, though we weren't sure exactly how we were going to interact with the lonely Birdo and a morbidly obese Little Mac -- until a recent Famitsu article revealed a few details about the title's gameplay.

As our Wiimote-toting brethren at Wii Fanboy succinctly observed -- Captain Rainbow appears to be one part Animal Crossing, and one part action. The titular yo-yo wielder will make his way about Mimin island, helping its inhabitants and playing certain minigames, the rewards for which are crystals known as "kirarin". Collecting 20 kirarin will open up one of the game's action portions, in which the Captain will traverse a side-scrolling level to collect a falling star, which will grant the wish of one of the island's inhabitants. That seems just bizarre enough to ensure the game won't be coming to America, but our fingers are crossed nonetheless.

Tags: birdo, captain-rainbow, famitsu, little-mac, nintendo, yo-yo

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Sesur @ Aug 9th 2008 12:35PM

YAY, RAINBOWS!

DonWii @ Aug 9th 2008 12:41PM

Tingle didn't make it over hear, so I doubt this will.

It might have a shot in Europe, though.

Mr Khan @ Aug 9th 2008 4:51PM

I don't know. The Tingle one was kind of overtly faux-gay in a lot of places. The developers intended that

In this case, it's only the name that's faux-gay, because of a cultural disconnect, not a deliberate intent on the developers

More likely, the obscurity of the characters, and some of the more overtly sexual (but hetero) content would stonewall this from seeing light outside of the source of the sun

Someguy @ Aug 9th 2008 1:01PM

I would really like to see this in the US...

juju187 @ Aug 9th 2008 1:15PM

my girlfriend shares the same fondness as you

BananaBoat @ Aug 9th 2008 1:41PM

KAPUTAAAANNN LAAAINNNNBLOWWWWWWWWW

I'm excited, just based on the name. If Katamari Damacy is any indication, games with rainbows are awesome.

Shadow El @ Aug 9th 2008 1:44PM

If this doesn't make it to the US somehow, I'll be immensely upset, this sounds like a really awesome game.

Thatoneguy64 @ Aug 9th 2008 2:25PM

Yeah, and it's made by skip, the guys behind Chibi-Robo.

Chibi-Robo was one of my favorite games of last gen, so I'm really looking forward to Captain Rainbow.

Wiinterfang @ Aug 9th 2008 1:48PM

This game gives me the creeps.

MikeO. @ Aug 9th 2008 2:36PM

Says the rainbow mario. o.O

Senor Facekick @ Aug 9th 2008 2:22PM

I've been dying to give my Wii some use as of late. I really, really wish this would come to the US. I also really really wish that this will be a good game, and that I could fly, and I had a robot that would make my food and bathe me, and a sports car that doubled as a rocket-ship and had a TGI fridays in it.

samfish @ Aug 9th 2008 2:41PM

I hope they release this here...but if they don't, I at least hope Europe gets it, so I can import it, if nothing else.

Also, the boxart for this game fucking ROCKS.

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Aug 9th 2008 3:01PM

Yes, the box art is hi-technical schweet. So if it gets released in Europe can you throw the disc straight in a US Wii? I've never imported a videogame before.

On a side note, seeing that the creators of this game did Chibi-Robo, I really want to go back and finish that off. Only GC games I held on to were Pikmin 2, Chibi-Robo, and Simpsons Hit n Run, which seeems to me to be about the only passable Simpsons game I've ever come across. Haven't played the new one...

And while I'm at it, only PS2 games I held on to were We Heart Katamari, Shadow of the Colusses, and Ratchet & Clank. At some point I will be buying a PS3 pretty much solely for R&C. *drools

BPM [MSN: BPMdotEXE @ hotmail.com] @ Aug 9th 2008 6:57PM

I belive if a PAL game supports a 60Hz frequency signal (normal PAL is 50Hz, and NTSC is 60Hz, but there's also PAL-60), it should be able to play on an NTSC console/TV without any problems (once you bypass region coding, that is).

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Aug 9th 2008 2:44PM

I can't see how anyone would be excited about this game. It has to be the creepiest game I have ever seen. If you think that Faux News exaggerated about Mass Effect just wait until they put their spin on this. It will certainly have some commentary on Nintendo forcing you're children to adopt a far left agenda of same sex marriage.

Saria the Cat @ Aug 9th 2008 2:58PM

Did you ever play Katamari Damacy? If that didn't have enough rainbows and tight purple pants and weirdness, I don't think Captain Rainbow will stir up much controversy.

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Aug 9th 2008 3:04PM

Can't see how anyone would be excited by this game...

Sigh, Poop, sigh. That's all.

tmacairjordan87 @ Aug 9th 2008 3:05PM

She has a point John, although both games are equally disturbing.

PS36Wii Fanboy @ Aug 9th 2008 3:21PM

Someone is not happy about the game :(, oh well :)

Sesur @ Aug 9th 2008 3:47PM

I don't get it either... I guess Weird+Colorful+Nintendo= Win?

Noshino @ Aug 9th 2008 4:19PM

Saria,

Thing is, Katamari Damacy was a completely new concept, combination of a weird/quirky gameplay and characters/setting, the characters had a lot of charisma

In the contrary, every time I see this game I think of a cheap Viewtiful Joe knock off, but without everything that made Joe so awesome

Saria the Cat @ Aug 9th 2008 4:43PM

@Noshino: Oh, I'm not arguing that Captain Rainbow will definitely be GOOD, I'm just making the argument that it shouldn't stir up any same sex or gay controversy, that's all. In fact, I have my hopes but the Animal Crossing mention makes me worry. Hopefully the gameplay will be fun and quirky like Katamari.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Aug 9th 2008 5:07PM

I do not see any controversy in the game. My point is that if the agenda driven mainstream American media gets ahold of this game they will portray it as something that it is not. They will say that this game is targeted at children and is attempting to confuse their sexuality. I see Mass Effect all over again except this time it will be something that certain media outlets are passionate about. Mass effect created a stir because of one optional sexually insinuated cut scene and that was turned into alien orgies for kids. This game is outwardly flamboyant and gay (which is fine) so the theme of this game seems to go around that premise as opposed to simply one tiny & optional cut scene.

I hope I am wrong but I don't have much faith in the agenda driven media.

@Markez

Go ahead and sigh. I don't see the appeal of the game. Big deal. Does everyone have to like the same stuff? Maybe you are also looking forward to Mario Super Sluggers but again that does not appeal to me. Why does it have such an effect on you? You always act as if I am saying something bad about you as a person.

@Tmac

She does have a point I don't think its valid. Just because there were certain thinly veiled references in Katamari does not mean something that is outwardly gay will not face a different wrath. I think because it is on the family friendly Wii it will face even more scrutiny. As I said before I hope that I am wrong about this one. After the Mass Effect fiasco I have no faith that anything related to this game will be portrayed as accurate in the media. Imagine a parent who bought their little kid this game on the Wii and then a week later they see a story on the news about how this game has a homosexual agenda (even though it doesn't). There will be outrage. The best thing that could happen to this game from a PR standpoint is to not release it in America.

BPM [MSN: BPMdotEXE @ hotmail.com] @ Aug 9th 2008 7:00PM

HAHA! FAUX NEWS! SO CLEVER! EVEN THOUGH "FAUX" AND "FOX" DON'T SOUND AT ALL THE SAME, IT'S STILL HILARIOUSLY CLEVER!
(Not defending Fox News... as they are rubbish... but... c'mon... that joke was played out as soon as it started)

Superstar90 @ Aug 9th 2008 7:26PM

I don't recall anyone ever actually admitting that this game is overly gay, Japanese stuff is always more like that then here. They practically poop rainbows in some of their TV shows.

Also off topic: Did any conservative media outlet make a fuss about the gay marriage in some of the old harvest moon games (well, the best friend system or w/e where a guy could come live with you instead)?

Shaq-Fu @ Aug 9th 2008 9:08PM

"a cheap Viewtiful Joe knock off,"

Stop right there and go no further. You have just peaked my interest in buying this game.

"but without everything that made Joe so awesome"

Really? Two main things a liked about VJ was the art style and the humor. The art style is pretty much cut and paste, and the potential humor is overwhelming. Think about it, the Soldiers from Famicom Wars (known in the US as Advance Wars) wanting to play volleyball? There is a goldmine of humor just waiting to be excavated, which is something skip Ltd. is good at.

Noshino @ Aug 9th 2008 11:17PM

Saria,

I do see this game causing some controversy if it is announced for NA (which seems very unlike as these kind of titles from Nintendo tend to stay Japan only), remember that the Wii is more family friendly, and cmon, is it really hard to not see how the media can spin this to say that Captain Rainbow is gay?

This is nothing like Katamari Damacy, Katamari was weirder/quirkier, not only that, the main characters (which could be used to claim that the game is "gay") aren't even humans. The game in general was something rare, hell, it was even praised by the media, yes, the mainstream media!

Now, this game has more of a casual feel to it, and is far more accessible than Katamari, not only that, it is also a Nintendo property, so put all of that together, tie it with a pink bow, and yes, you got yourself the next story for Fox News.

"I don't recall anyone ever actually admitting that this game is overly gay"

yes, because in japan they don't give that much attention to that, unlike here in the US

"Really? Two main things a liked about VJ was the art style and the humor. The art style is pretty much cut and paste, and the potential humor is overwhelming"

Actually, for me there were 3 things, gameplay, art style (AAAmazing art style), and humor.

Gameplay looks nowhere as deep as VJ's, Art style is just ugh, and humor, well, the character doesn't have the same charisma that Joe had

"Joe: Uh! What an idiot!
Gran Bruce: Oi! You best shut up, mate. Otherwise I'll chew yer hind quaters like a big stick of... thing... uh... ah, you know the... arghhhhhh!
Joe: Gum! G.U.M. Gum! Gah! Do I have to spell it out on a chalk board for ya?
Gran Bruce: Yeah... so?"

"Joe: [Pep-talking his knuckles] Time to go to work, guys! *Mwah!* *Mwah!*"

Markez @ Aug 10th 2008 2:47AM

Sounded reasonable in your reply, "Does everyone have to like the same stuff?", yet began your initial post with "I can't see how anyone would be excited about this game."?

I don't ever think you're saying anything bad about me as a person as you imply, however I guess it gets old when you see somebody write epically (not sure if that's a word?) long posts and still be only as insightful as Name123 or PerfectCompanion.

I kept seeing the lame ass 'tl;dr' response from others to your posts, which is finally why i found out what the stupid meme meant. So, I guess, um, thanks for that...

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Aug 10th 2008 1:28PM

@Markez

tl;dr

If you feel that way simply avoid any post I make. Because I am not satisfied with your console of choice or games from Nintedo YOU feel the need to get offended instead of actually engaging in conversation. Just make it easier on yourself and skip any post from me. On that circumstance everybody wins. You do not have to waste precious time trying to think of different ways to insult me and people who are interested in an actual discussion do not have to get derailed.

Saria the Cat @ Aug 10th 2008 5:16PM

@Noshino: That's definitely true, but I just have hopes it won't be antagonized. :( Maybe if they change the name to something obscure and Japanese it won't get any attention. Now I fear for my poor Captain Rainbow!

F1 @ Aug 9th 2008 2:54PM

Needs more 2player:

http://www.2pstart.com/2008/07/30/missing-the-target/

Saria the Cat @ Aug 9th 2008 2:56PM

Looks fantasmic. But I'm a bit wary of that Animal Crossing part. Hopefully the gameplay will be fun enough to overshadow the fact that the game (probably) has no defined "point." Katamari did a great job of this, so I have hope.

Mr Khan @ Aug 9th 2008 4:55PM

The value of the animal crossing part will be character-driven. They all seem to be very colorful and amusing

fred @ Aug 9th 2008 9:53PM

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8772014

There's a link describing the study.

fred @ Aug 9th 2008 9:54PM

ok how the hell did my comment end up here?

PS36Wii Fanboy @ Aug 9th 2008 3:20PM

I will try it out if it ever comes... though I am a littled worried from the gameplay, was never a huge fan of the Animal Crossing series(Cheapskate Raccoon is evil :P ) but if the old characters like that girl from Earthbound, Birdo, and lil mac are still going to be there, I'll give it a look.

AwesomeTown @ Aug 9th 2008 3:21PM

This is an instant purchase for me if it comes out in the US. Do it for me, Nintendo.

ice~ @ Aug 9th 2008 3:45PM

considering my severe case of homophobia and fear of rainbows I don't think I'll be buying this...and if you saw the snickers commercial you'd know that Mr. T would pity this game, and I buy nothing if Mr. T would pity it!!!•

SapphicAlure @ Aug 9th 2008 4:32PM

Homophobia is a strong sign that you yourself are gay.

Hope you don't take this revelation too badly

ice~ @ Aug 9th 2008 4:37PM

lol mr psychologist you tell that to the millions of conservative Americans who oppose homosexuality or despise it, I'm pretty sure those respectful American families aren't gay, and if u support than by all means sir, you are gay, though u may not know it yet

Saria the Cat @ Aug 9th 2008 4:44PM

Haven't you seen American Beauty?

ice~ @ Aug 9th 2008 4:55PM

nope, I haven't. Why, is it relevant?

SapphicAlure @ Aug 9th 2008 4:56PM

Lol i am in fact gay and proud of it!
Girls are definately the hotter species.

And i didnt say it meant you WERE gay, but it's a strong sign.
And im guessing by your obvious defensive retaliation that deep down you're fighting that little gay munchkin dancing to the thought of CAPTAIN RAINBOW!

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Aug 9th 2008 7:51PM

Proud to be gay? That makes no sense at all. No one cares if you choose to be gay. There is nothing to be proud or ashamed of. It is a lifestyle choice. It is not natural to be gay. If everyone were gay there would be no more society. Just like people who are straight have nothing to be proud of in terms of their choice. Be proud of your partner and yourself for doing the right things in life. Don't try and make blanket associations about a person who speaks their mind. That's like saying if you're a homosexual you have a meth munchkin in your head or an AIDS munchkin. That's just as absurd as an openly homophobic heterosexual being called a closet homosexual.

ice~ @ Aug 9th 2008 9:30PM

thankyou johnny that's exactly what I wanted to say, need more people like u in this country...

fred @ Aug 9th 2008 9:49PM

It's not random psychological bullshit.

They ran studies where they hooked people up to something that registered arousal, showed them pics of a straight and gay nature and those who self identified as homophobic registered as FABULOUS.

Also, gay people say they're proud of who they are because they are so often told to be ashamed.

fred @ Aug 9th 2008 9:55PM

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8772014

A link describing study blah blah blah

ice~ @ Aug 10th 2008 2:43AM

Lol i love how a nintendo game turned into a "gay" debate

Saria the Cat @ Aug 10th 2008 5:14PM

First of all, SPOILER ALERT FOR AMERICAN BEAUTY!!!

@ice~: Oh, sorry for the late reply, but I mentioned it because in American Beauty, a dad is obsessed about whether his son is gay and strictly opposes it and is basically extremely homophobic and antagonistic towards homosexuality. And then in the end of the movie he cries and kisses another guy on the mouth 'cause he's been repressing his own homosexuality for so long because HIS father taught him it was wrong to be gay.